Major update in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's quest to trademark their Archewell Foundation after five-year struggle

Daily Mail​

a day ago

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell Foundation has finally passed a major step in the trademark process - five years after applications were initially submitted.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex originally submitted their application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2020, after stepping down as working members of the royal family.
Now, after facing several hurdles, the Archewell Foundation has finally been granted final examiner clearance - meaning it has met all requirements for trademark status.
The trademark application was updated on August 16, and has now been assigned to an examiner to formally grant the mark.
In addition, an application for Archewell Audio, which covers podcasts, live performances and other audio projects, was cleared to final registration on Saturday.
Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation, named in honour of their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, is the entertainment and charity empire behind their various projects and replaced their 'Sussex Royal' brand.
However their attempts to get it protected by company law in America have repeatedly hit stumbling blocks.
Their attempt to trademark their charitable organisation was initially rejected in 2020 as they didn't sign the document or pay the required fees, The Sun reported at the time.
The paperwork was also said to be 'too vague'.
In 2022, the application hit another hurdle, and Harry and Meghan were again told the applications would need clarification if they were to be made law.
As reported by the Daily Mail's Richard Eden at the time, the office replied: 'Applicant must clarify that these are entertainment-based services.'
The application also said the firm would create: 'live podcast performances, live stage performances, live music performances, and live audio-book readings.' The office replied: 'Applicant must clarify these are entertainment-based services', as well as 'specify the nature of the 'live stage performances'.'
Trademark lawyers also asked the couple's legal team to define the kind of web apps they would wish to provide through the Archewell Foundation.
The couple previously revealed the word Arche, which means source of action in Greek, was the inspiration behind the name of their son.
A source close to the Sussexes previously declared: 'Archewell is going to be huge. Harry and Meghan will use it to support lots of causes that they feel passionately about. It will be a global organisation with international ambitions.'
They had set up a similar 'not-for-profit' organisation, Sussex Royal, but were banned from using the word 'royal' when they quit official duties.
The trademark status of Archewell was updated on Saturday and has now been accepted
Since its launch, Archewell has continued to grow its two signature programmes - The Archewell Foundation Parents' Network and The Welcome Project.
Following a successful pilot, The Archewell Foundation Parents' Network launched publicly in August 2024.
Its mission is to unite parents with first-hand experience of the dangers social media poses to children.
In 2023, The Archewell Foundation handed out $1.3million in grants to good causes in the US and other parts of the world. Expenditure on other costs such as salaries, event costs, legal fees and travel was just under $2million in 2023.
Archewell's US tax return, published in December, also revealed that income reached $5.7million last year, mainly thanks to a mystery benefactor who gave $5million in a single donation plus $335,000 from five other individuals.
By contrast, the application for Meghan's lifestyle brand As ever is still pending, and was last updated in June.
In February, the Duchess renamed her American Riviera Orchard business in a bid for a fresh start, later launching a series of jams, wines and teas alongside her Netflix show With Love, Meghan.
But the rebrand was off to a rocky start, as it triggered a plagiarism row in Spain as civic bosses in the sleepy Mallorca village of Porreres accused the Duchess of copying its traditional coat of arms for the As ever logo.
Shortly afterwards, an independent New York clothing label with the same name as Meghan's brand pleaded for support and also considered taking legal action.
Earlier this month, the trailer for the second season of With Love, Meghan was released, and showed Meghan hosting a fresh batch of celebrities and influencers at the rented California house close to her and Prince Harry's Montecito mansion.
With Love, Meghan was renewed for a second season just as season one was released in March. All the episodes were filmed at the same time, it is understood.
Guests on season two will include Chrissy Teigen and Jamie Kern Lima, the trailer revealed.
In the one-minute, 27-second teaser, Meghan is seen eating cheese, prepping snacks and drinks with friends and even reveals the food her husband Prince Harry doesn't like.
'Do you know who doesn't like lobster? My husband,' she says as she prepares the seafood.
Meghan in the new trailer for the second season of her lifestyle and cooking show
As the trailer comes to an end, Meghan reveals: 'I love these moments of discovery and beauty. So let's be curious together.'
Meghan's lifestyle show failed to break into Netflix 's top 300 programmes for the first half of 2025 and was even thrashed by multiple seasons of Suits. The numbers watching were 'dismal', an insider at the streamer reportedly said.
Meghan has also filmed a Christmas special for broadcast in December, in a potential clash with the Princess of Wales ' annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
The first series showed the former Suits star, 44, inviting friends and famous guests to a California estate, where she shared cooking, gardening and hosting tips.
But it was panned by many reviewers who called it 'sensationally absurd and trite' with the Duchess of Sussex called 'tone-deaf' and punting a show that 'vibrates with vacuous joylessness'.
It has an IMDB rating of 3.2 out of 10 and a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicates that the TV show is considered 'rotten'.
Meghan was also lampooned for putting pretzels from the packet into a plastic bag, chiding one guest for using Markle as her surname instead of Sussex and one viewer threatened to sue claiming her recipe for homemade bath salts burned her skin.
Meanwhile, outraged fans criticised the Duchess and Netflx after it was revealed American model Chrissy Teigen is among the guests on the second season of With Love, Meghan.
Her inclusion has cast a shadow over the second installment of With Love, Meghan - even before its release - after social media users highlighted the former Sports Illustrated model's bullying row.
In 2021, John Legend 's wife Chrissy faced severe backlash after abusive tweets by the star - dating back to 2011 - resurfaced online. In one, she told then-16-year-old Courtney Stodden - who identifies as they/them - to kill themselves.
While the star has since apologised, it appeared fans have yet to fully forgive Chrissy for the disparaging tweets towards Courtney after they spotted her laughing and joking in the kitchen with Prince Harry's wife.
The appearance of Chrissy in the show is all the more baffling, given Meghan's propensity to distance herself from pals who find themselves at the centre of controversy.
Despite the bullying controversy, however, Chrissy has been close with the Duchess, especially after the Sussexes relocated to California in 2020.
Now, her cameo on the forthcoming season of With Love, Meghan has called their friendship into question after several people highlighted how the Duchess has championed for stricter online safety regulations while speaking out against cyberbullying.
Last October, Meghan reportedly described herself as being 'one of the most bullied people in the world' during a meeting with teenage girls at the youth leadership organisation Girls Inc in Santa Barbara.
Earlier that year in August, Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation launched the Parents' Network in support of 'parents who have first-hand knowledge of the pain and destruction caused by social media use '.
Netflix viewers highlighted the irony of roping in Chrissy, who said she was 'ashamed and completely embarrassed' by the tweets in her public apology to Courtney, for the show helmed by Meghan - who has consistently spoken out about children's digital safety.
'She advocates against online bullying then has Chrissy Teigen on...make it make sense Netflix,' one X user wrote.
Another message read: 'How can Meghan Markle associate with Chrissy Teigen, a self-confessed online bully and troll who purports to suport the Parents Network who are campaigning against this very thing?'
Back in 2014, Chrissy and Meghan were snapped alongside Nina Agdal and Shay Mitchell in New York City as they participated in the DirecTV Beach Bowl at Pier 40
It came as experts claimed that the Sussexes' new Netflix deal is a 'downgrade' on their previous $100million five-year tie-up and more 'we'll call you' than 'here's the chequebook'.
The couple signed a new 'multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects' with the streaming giant - understood to be worth less for the pair than their previous contract.
The 'first-look' arrangement means Netflix can say yes or no to new film or television projects before anyone else - allowing them to pick and choose what they invest in.
PR expert Mark Borkowski described the new deal as a 'downgrade', claiming it falls a long way from the jackpot figure of Harry and Meghan's original contract in 2020.
He told the Daily Mail: 'I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn't deliver, and they've taken that deal off the table, and they've given them a modest one.
'It's not like they're gradually uncoupling – it's a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It's Netflix saying, 'Let's have a look at your content, but we'll pick and choose, mate'.'
The couple's new output will include a second season of the Duchess's 'With Love, Meghan' lifestyle show later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December.
The Sussexes are also working on 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within' - a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'.
There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix which 'span a variety of content genres', including an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake.
Netflix has already released the first series of With Love, Meghan as well as Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead and the couple's bombshell documentary Harry & Meghan as well as being a business partner on Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract thought to be worth $100million (£74million) with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020.
The renewed deal was described by the Sussexes - who made the announcement with Netflix - as 'extending their creative partnership' through Archewell Productions.
But the new terms are understood to be worth less for Harry and Meghan than their previous contract, according to a person familiar with the deal, and represent Netflix loosening its ties with the couple.
In a statement, Meghan said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand.'